[HANASHIR:9652] Re: 23rd Psalm -- A dissenting Opinion

[Judy Ginsburgh <judy...>]

I tend to lean toward the Wohlberg Psalm 23 as well.  There are two settings
by him (one in Hebrew/one in English) in the ACC Cantor's Lifecycle Manual
available from Transcontinental Music.  I use the English setting more
often.  It is a haunting and interesting melody.

Judy :)

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh - Professional Singer/Recording Artist/Educator
www.jewishentertainment.net/judy
judy (at) jewishentertainment(dot)net
Director:  Jewish Entertainment Resources - We Help You Find Jewish Talent!
www.jewishentertainment.net
Conference Chair - CAJE 23 - www.caje.org

----- Original Message -----
From: "David A. Blumberg" <blumbrg (at) execpc(dot)com>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 1:17 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:9651] 23rd Psalm -- A dissenting Opinion


> I agree with all those who suggested Gerald Cohen's "Adonai Ro'i"
(copyright
> in 1995 by New Jewish Music Press, by the way) as a stunningly beautiful
> setting of the 23rd Psalm, but offer this dissent and something else to
> consider.
>     Sometimes the context within which we want to sing a piece music
demands
> that we chose not a lushly gorgeous setting but one that is truly
beautiful
> but really simple.  Sometimes, less IS more.
>     In deciding which of the many settings of the 23rd Psalm to sing for
> Yizkor (or for a funeral service), I have consistently chosen not to sing
> the Gerald Cohen's setting, precisely because it demands too much
attention.
> Just as "movie music" is best when it unobtrusively molds our mood and
> feelings and is wrong and overdone when it calls out from movie, "WOW,
> Listen to ME", I think that there are very few times when the Cohen
setting
> will not be too lush for the context.
>     My purpose in a Yizkor service is not to have people not sit up and
> notice the wonderful music, but rather to have the people come away from
the
> service deeply moved for reasons that they cannot fully explain.  That is
> why I have almost always opted to use Max Wohlberg's setting of the 23rd
> Psalm (Publ. by Ashbourne Music and available in the new Cantors Assembly
> "Hazzan's Manual" and in many other places). It is beautiful, highly
> evocative, deceptively simple and unassuming, but consistently capable of
> operating like an emotional can opener to a vast well of feelings -- all
> without calling attention to itself.  I recommend it highly for that
reason.
>      Save the Cohen for State funerals and concerts.
>
>     David Blumberg
>     Milwaukee, Wisconsin
>
>

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